Splint



Patented July 8, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE SPLINT Charles Greppi, Shorewood, Wis. Application April 19, 1944, Serial No. 531,714

(Cl. 12S-87) 1 Claim.

This invention relates to splints of the so called traction type for rst aid use as temporary or emergency supports for fractured limbs of accident victims.

The purpose of such splints is to hold the fractured limb in a substantially straight condition and under sucient longitudinal tension to maintain a slight separation between the rough ends of the fractured bone until the victim can be placed in the professional care of a doctor or physician. Because such splints are commonly used by novices having little or no training and under emergency conditions, simplicity of design and of application are essential to full utility.

Splints of this kind are ordinarily applied by bandaging one end to the body of the victim adjacent the inner or upper extremity of the fractured limb and by connecting the other end to the outer extremity of the limb through a bandage suitably tensioned to provide the desired tension in the limb, the splint being disposed beside the limb and additionally bandaged thereto at points adjacent opposite sides of the fracture. The splint is necessarily longer than the limb so as to project beyond both ends thereof and functions as a prop which under longitudinal compressions, sustains the desired tension in the limb.

One object of the present invention is to provide a splint extensible to accommodate limbs of various lengths and having means for automatically sustaining the same in any extended condition against the compression forces induced by limb tension.

Another object is to provide an improved extensible splint which when not in use, may be readily reduced to a size convenient for packaging in an emergency kit or for storage in the limited spaces ordinarily available in ambulances, patrol cars, and the like.

Other more specific objects and advantages will appear, expressed or implied, from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a traction splint constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View similar to that of Figure 1 but on a larger scale and with a face plate thereof removed. l

Fig. 3 is an end elevation on a still larger scale looking from left to right in Fig. 2.

\ Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

The splint selected for illustration comprises two relatively thin, fiat, elongated telescoping sections I9 and II disposed in coplanar relation and coacting to form a substantially rigid longitudinally adjustable structure. The outer ends of the sections are preferably notched, forked, or otherwise fashioned, as at I2, to receive suitable bandages or the like by which the splint may be attached to or adjacent the opposite extremities of a fractured limb to support the same.

In this instance section i9 of the splint is laterally reduced throughout the major portion of its length to form an elongated tongue I3 closely fitted within a longitudinal guide channel I4 that extends throughout the major portion of the length of section il. In the device shown the channel is formed by cutting away the section I l to form spaced side legs I5 which are rigidly joined and braced by relatively thin overlying side plates Ill nailed or otherwise fixed thereto.

In the collapsed condition shown in full lines in Fig. 1 the splint is of a reduced size well adapted for convenient storage, but it may be extended to accommodate fractured limbs of various lengths by partial withdrawal of section 10 from section 11. Appropriate means, such as a spring pressed pin I5 in one edge of the tongue I3 engageable with a notch I'I in one of the legs I5, is preferably provided to limit the extension of the splint.

Provision is made for automatically but releasably sustaining the splint against collapse from any extended condition in which it may be set. In the splint shown this is accomplished by the use of two cam-shaped dogs I8 which are normally yieldably urged into gripping engagement with the opposite side walls of the guide channel I4. In this instance the dogs I8 are confined between a pair of end plates I9 fixed to and projecting beyond the inner end of the tongue I9, each being rockably supported upon a pivot pin 2B carried by and spanning the plates I9. Each dog I8 is provided with a tail 2l confined between a pair of opposed pressure shoes 22 and 23 slidably mounted on a rod 24 that extends lengthwise through the splint section Iii. Shoe 23 is held in contact with the tails 2| by a, spring 25 confined between the shoe 23 and a head 26 on the rod 24; and shoe 22 is held in contact with the tails 2I by a. spring 21 confined between shoe 22 and a washer 28 seated against the endof tongue I3. The rod 24 is lengthwise movable in the tongue I3 is actuated and controlled by suitable means, such as a block 29 guided in the outer exposed end of the splint section Il).

The block 29 and rod 24 normally assume the inwardly advanced position shown, in which position the spring 21 acts through the shoe 22 to press the dogs I8 against the opposite side walls of the guide channel Iii, With these parts thus disposed, the splint section I may be partially withdrawn from section Il in a manner to eX- tend the splint to the desired length, the dogs I8 being shaped and rockable in such direction as permit free outward movement of section I0. Any inward thrust applied to the splint section I0 however is effectively resisted by the dogs lil, such thrust causing .the dogs I8 to rock the latter in a direction to force their cam-like surfaces into secure gripping engagement with the side walls of the channel I4. These cam-like surfaces are preferably toothed, as indicated to increase the effectiveness of their grip.

W'hen it is desired to shorten or collapse the splint, the rod 24 is retracted by retracting the .block 29, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. By this action of the rod 24, the spring 25 is compressed and, acting through the shoe 23 and tails 2l, rocks the dogs I8 in such direction as to release them and to thereby permit free advance of the tongue i3 in the guide channel Hi.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention hereinabove specically described Without departing from or sacrificing the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

An adjustable traction splint comprising a substantially fiat elongated housing member having an open end and a closed end, the latter having a bandage receiving notch, a second member having one end provided with a bandage receiving notch and also having an elongated tongue extending therefrom through said open end of said housing member, said tongue being closely guided in said housing member for lengthwise adjustment therein, a pair of oppositely directed elements rockably mounted within said tongue and yieldably urged into gripping engagement with the interior of said housing member to normally restrain said tongue against movement inwardly of said housing, and means extending lengthwise of said tongue for releasing said elements, said means including an actuator projectable into said last named bandage receiving notch to release said elements, the position of said actuator being such that the application of a bandage to ksaid notch will restrain said actuator against dog-releasing movement thereof.

CHARLES GREPPI.

REFERENCES CETED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 350,526 Bunce Oct. 12, 1886 1,070,467 Heggen Aug. 19, 1913 2,146,842 Niessen et al. Feb. 14, 1939 2,269,065 Roberts Jan. 6, 1942 2,301,534 Goodwyn Nov. l0, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 139,022 Great Britain Feb. 26, 1920 264,310 Italy Apr. 24, 1929 170,739 Germany Nov. 16, 1904 345,282 Germany Dec. 9, 1921 479,434 Germany Jan. 13, 1927 

